Letters

Like the editorial board of the Optic (Monday, March 24), we are elated at the announcement (Friday, March 21) that the management of Alta Vista Regional Hospital and District 1199 of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Workers have finally negotiated a contract. We were not so elated at the news, also in Friday’s Optic, that Gov. (Susana) Martinez may try to prevent union dues for state workers from being withheld from their paychecks, thereby greatly weakening the unions involved.

In response to a letter to the editor in the Las Vegas Optic dated May 21, 2014, and submitted by Mary Vermillion, Ojo Feliz, N.M., I find the comments she puts in her letter extremely offensive to the people of Mora. The people have been guardians of these lands for hundreds of years, and unfortunately in the recent past some people, have been remiss in their duty to the Creator to be caretakers of the Mother Earth.

Is the right to property more valuable and important than the right to life?

Greetings to all proud residents of Mora County. My name is Nancy E. Quintana, Colombian by birth, lawyer by profession and now adopted daughter of Mora County. This letter is written in Spanish, mother tongue of the people of Mora.

I am writing this letter to acknowledge the professionalism of the emergency room staff at Alta Vista Hospital.

Last Tuesday, March 18, the staff at the San Miguel County Assessor’s Office began feeling ill with an odor in the office. I immediately contacted Les Montoya, San Miguel County manager, who took quick action and instructed us to go up to the county commission chambers.

I commend the Planning and Zoning commissioners for their willingness to listen to the viewpoints and information presented by the public at the recent open hearing. Recommending that the county commissioners take time to review the ordinance concerning oil and gas exploration in San Miguel County showed that they took seriously their responsibility as public officials responding to the concerns of people in the community. Such responsiveness in our public representatives is appreciated.

Like many residents of Mora County, I have many concerns about oil and gas development in Mora County. I am disturbed that oil and gas drilling is not adequately regulated at the state and federal level, and I’m especially upset about the loophole put in place ... that exempted fracking from certain environmental laws enforced by the EPA. I personally believe we need to restore and strengthen those protections.

The previous letter I wrote regarding the Amtrak stated that it was my understanding that New Mexico had purchased the rail line from Santa Fe to Raton. The letter in Friday’s paper (3/21) states the purchase was from Albuquerque to Lamy, I stand corrected.

This election year, two men from the Regensberg family are running for office. Benjie Regensberg is a candidate for the state house of representatives. On Jan. 15, 2001, Benjie was sworn in as a member of the legislature.

The ad run in the March 14 Optic, written by Jacobo and Valerie Pacheco, sets a tone that is very appealing but which at root is really sort of a fairy tale – the kind that ends with “and they lived happily ever after.”

Setting aside the fact that the Pachecos make their living by the selling and transporting of hydrocarbons (propane), the appeal for protection of “our magnificent and pristine lands” and “our very way of life” disregards a number of inconvenient facts.

My name is Ramón Lucero Jr. I am the President of El Valle Water Alliance, a consortium of 13 communities in western San Miguel County. On Tuesday, March 11, 2014, Gov. Martinez signed House Bill 55 2014 Work NM Act - Severance Tax Bond Projects.